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| National Book Club Conference, Inc. Newsletter |
1st 2010 News
August 2009 |
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 Dear Book Lover:
I have been overwhelmed by the countless wonderful words from you expressing how this year's NBCC moved you in one way or another, that it was a weekend to remember. All I can say is: I'm glad. And thank you.
And it motivates me even more to make sure we do it again, even more grand in 2010, July 30-August 1. In that spirit, we are moving. The Marriott, despite all the business we provided over the past two years, presented challenges that we should never have encountered. So, we will hold the NBCC the next two years at the Hyatt Regency (left), which is directly across the street from the Marriott in downtown Atlanta.
It, of course, is a wonderful property that has some great history, too. It is among the first hotels in the South during the Civil Rights movement to accept African-Americans as guests and maintains a special relationship with black churches in Atlanta. We will be in the International section of the Hyatt, which is beautiful and has been newly renovated -- the rooms, salons and ballroom. So, it fits our considerable needs, including the room rate: $149 a night. We can begin making reservations in the next few weeks. I will share the reservation number and other details in the next correspondence. Also, it will be on the updated NBCC website, www.nationalbookclubconference.com in the next week -- along with hundreds of photos that will make you reminisce - or jealous if you did not join us.
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500 Attendees Limit in 2010
Intimacy Preferred - And Promised
 You have spoken, and the resounding message has been received on this end. One of the reasons the '09 NBCC was considered the best (not counting our extraordinary '07 journey to Ghana, West Africa) -- beyond the incredible fellowship, the open and approachable authors, the great learning and emotion expressed -- was the size of our party. Repeatedly, those who attended other NBCCs expressed how this year's event was more like the early years and unlike '08, when we had 124 more readers on hand. The flow was better, the lines shorter, the experience more intimate. And that last point -- an intimate experience -- was a promise I made to maintain after the '03 NBCC.
So, the maximum attendees for next year's NBCC will be 500. With the 100 who have taken advantage of the early bird registration, that leaves just 400 positions available for the 2010 event. This puts a premium on securing your position ASAP with a $100 (nonrefundable) deposit. Spots are secure only with a deposit.
This decision comes after much deliberation, but solely with the purpose of making sure we have the kind of experience the NBCC was originally set up to achieve.
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Book Club Master List
Register With Devoted Book Lover
One of the things we talked about in the final session of the '09 NBCC was creating a functional database of book clubs that would be available to all book clubs. Well, as promised, we are making it happen, thanks to the generous offer of book lover Claudia Bell.
Claudia (below, right), who serves in the Air Force and is recently back from a tour in Iraq, volunteered to compile the list. So, whether you attended the '09 N BCC or not, please call or e-mail Claudia and provide her with your book club name, contact person, city, e-mail address and phone number.
You can call her toll free and leave your information (please speak slowly and clearly) at 800-218-5147 Ext 3. or e-mail her at claudia.bell@mcguire.af.mil.
Over the next few weeks, she will build the list and send to me -- and I will share with you. That way, all the incredible relationships developed over the weekend can be nurtured until we meet again, July 30-Aug. 1, 2010.
Please register your book club ASAP with Claudia -- and at www.nationalbookclubconference.com.
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Author LY Marlow's Commitment
Domestic Violence Awareness
Many
of you at the NBCC heard award-winner author L.Y. Marlow share her heartfelt story about her inspiration to craft the poignant Color Me Butterfly,
a story of four generations of mothers and daughters that suffered and
survived 60-plus years of domestic violence and abuse. But the story did not end there. When she learned that her granddaughter,
Promise, had become the fifth generation in her family to fall into
the syndrome, L.Y. founded the Saving Promise
Campaign, which aims to finally put domestic violence awareness on the
map in the same way breast cancer awareness has been made a national
priority.
On October 24, 2009 in Baltimore,
the Saving Promise Campaign will host its first Annual Black Tie Gala
to celebrate the launch of the campaign. It is L.Y.'s hope to
have book clubs attend the gala. To attend the event or supporting
the Saving Promise Campaign, email L.Y. at
lymarlow@colormebutterfly.com and visit www.savingpromisecampaign.org
to learn more about the campaign. (Or click on L.Y.'s photo above.)
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2010 Authors List Growing
Once Again, An Unprecedented Roster
 The list of 2010 authors promises to again represent the best anyone can offer. Already on board: Walter Mosley, Terry McMillan, Pearl Cleage, Terrie Williams, Tina McElroy Ansa, Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant, Kimberla Lawson Roby, Dr. Bertice Berry, Victoria Christopher Murray, Grammy-winner Eddie Levert, actress Victoria Rowell, R.M. Johnson (above), Lyah Beth LeFlore, ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Trice Hickman and outstanding newcomers James Jimason and Esauren Phyer, just to name a few.
Rest assured there will be an abundance of HUGE names added along the way -- and some not-so-huge names that you should meet and know -- to flush out our incredible Featured Author list.
Please read and share your NBCC e-newsletter and continually check our website for updates.
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Photos, Photos, Photos. . .
www.nationalbookclubconference.com
 There are so many photos and so many testimonies to the '09 NBCC that my webmasters thinks I'm crazy. But I want to recapture as much of the event as possible through photos and your words. People don't believe how engaging Susan L. Taylor and Dr. Cornel West were or how inspiring Dr. Bertice Berry was or how open and raw Terry McMillan was or how moving the Terrie Williams panel discussion on Black Pain was or much fun the Kimani Press reception was or how glamorous the Red Carpet event was or how smart and charming and funny and genuine ALL the authors were. . . so we have to prove it to them via photos and participants' words.
And even with all that, it still will not truly convey what took place. It's one of those "you had to be there" experiences. But I will try anyway. So, in a week, the site - www.nationalbookclubconference.com - will be loaded with images and words that will bring you back to our weekend - and let those who missed it know they missed out!!!
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2010 Payment Schedule
Plan Eases Burden of Registration
To assure you experience all we have to offer,
you can secure your limited positions today via
credit card on PayPal.com (send money to curtis@thebunngroup.com) or
check made out to NBCC Foundation and send to NBCC, Inc., 235 N. Highland Avenue
N.E., Suite 230-171, Atlanta, GA 30307.
The 2010 registration
rate is $325 per person, $300 per person for groups of five or more and $275 for those who attended this year's NBCC.
Payment plan:
NOW: Deposit (non-refundable): $100
Nov. 1: $100
Feb. 1: $125
Registration
includes admission to all NBCC-related events; breakfast and cocktail
at reception on Friday; dinner at the banquet on Saturday; gift bag
with four complimentary books, NBCC t-shirt, program, magazines and
other goodies.
Dates: July 30 - August 1, Atlanta
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As always, I am grateful for your support and friendship. Please share information about our event to others who love books and authors. And do confirm your spot for next year's NBCC via a deposit ASAP.
Peace and blessings,
CURTIS
Curtis Bunn
National Book Club Conference, Inc.
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